My odd musical tastes

[shocksyde]

I'm wondering if anyone else has the same weird take on music as I do.

I concentrate 95% of my listening on only the instrumental elements of songs. As far as I'm concerned, the singer's voice is just another instrument.

A good example would be one of my favorite bands, Sigur Ros. The singers speak in complete gibberish, yet I think it's some of the most beautiful music ever.

Another good example is Nine Inch Nails. One of my favorite bands back in high school, yet I don't even know all the words to "Closer".

A piano bar is my worst enemy. It seems like everyone has no trouble singing along to every song, while I sit there and know absolutely none of the words (except for hooks).

Now, you'd think this all means I'm really into techno and that type of music. I do like it, but techno takes up maybe 5% of my ipod space.

I can't stand "jam" music because it's simply too tame for me. The lyrics may be deep and meaningful, but I could care less.

Anyone else like this? Let me know if I'm just batshit crazy.

 

[Shadow Conception]

I can't understand lyrics 95% of the time.

 

[natto fire]

I have the opposite problem, which is why I can't dance. I focus too much on the lyrics, and completely lose touch with the rhythm and it just becomes "spoken word" crap in my head. If there were a way to trade, that would be cool, as music is definitely not about getting a message across through verse, but stimulating happiness through tones.

And as far as gibberish lyrics go, I listen to the Mars Volta, and even though I learned them, it kind of makes me wonder when the lyrics are definitely gibberish.

BTW, I could recite the Closer lyrics as long as I had the song playing in the background, and that video kicks ass.

 

[njmodi]

Rhythm/Melody/Harmony > Lyrics for me for most music...

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I pay way more attention to lyrics than melody/harmony/bass/whatever. Don't get me wrong, I still want the music to sound good, but I am willing to forgive bad instrumentation if the lyrics are slamming moreso than vice versa. I'm a big fan of hip hop, particularly lyricists who focus on word play (like Sage Francis), or just fucked up esoteric shit (Aesop Rock). I still listen to a lot of rock, but it bugs me when a song contains the same phrase repeated over and over ad nauseum and the only thing changing is the guitar riffs. Not my style.

But I definitely know all the words to Closer. That song is wicked sick.

 

[BrownTown]

I often have trouble understanding lyrics in songs, but if I like a song I always look them up. I mean so much of the meaning is wrapped up in the words, the "sound" is much more superficial. But IMO either can be good and make a song good, but in order for a song to be great BOTH have to be good.

 

[Kadarin]

Our taste in music is different, but we act the same way in that to me, the singer's voice is just another instrument.

 

[Spacehead]

Lyrics are secondary to the music for me.

 

[spunkz]

i don't usually understand or care what the lyrics are, although i prefer a song with lyrics in it over some techno song with no vocals. i listen to the feeling that is put into the words and not the words themselves.

 

[Lonyo]

I listen to the music AND the lyrics. Crazy, eh?
They're a package, and they are both important elements of the song (assuming it has lyrics obviously).
That said I do listen to some foreign songs as well where I don't understand the lyrics, but I sing along to that to, but then it's more about the feeling than the meaning.

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: njmodi
Rhythm/Melody/Harmony > Lyrics for me for most music...

"Don't listen to the notes she's playing, listen to the notes she isn't playing"
"I could do that at home"


The songs I like don't even have words, or at least words that make sense. Example:

Now, I goin' to Rosedale, Take my rider by my side
Still barrelhouse, If it's on the riverside, yeah
I know my baby, Lord, I said, "is really sloppy drunk"
I know my mama, Lord, a brownskin, but she ain't no plum

-Traveling Riverside Blues, Led Zeppelin

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy
I have the opposite problem, which is why I can't dance. I focus too much on the lyrics, and completely lose touch with the rhythm and it just becomes "spoken word" crap in my head. If there were a way to trade, that would be cool, as music is definitely not about getting a message across through verse, but stimulating happiness through tones.

And as far as gibberish lyrics go, I listen to the Mars Volta, and even though I learned them, it kind of makes me wonder when the lyrics are definitely gibberish.

BTW, I could recite the Closer lyrics as long as I had the song playing in the background, and that video kicks ass.

Closer (rated R version) -> overtures of child Porn?